Reps. Calvert, Smith and Others Introduce Mandatory Employment Verification

Press Release

Bill Makes Rep. Calvert's E-Verify Program Mandatory

Today Reps. Calvert (R-Calif.), Smith (R-Texas), Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), John Carter (R-Texas), Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Gary Miller (R-Calif.), Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), and Gallegly (R-Calif.) introduced the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 2164) which will make employment verification mandatory nationwide.

"After several months of deliberation and thoughtful discussion, I am pleased to join with my colleagues to introduce the Legal Workforce Act which would make the use of E-Verify mandatory," said Rep. Calvert. "The Legal Workforce Act is a rational approach to mandatory employment verification and includes additional protections for American workers' Social Security information. It provides for a two-year phase in while giving the agricultural industry three years to comply. Once mandatory employment verification is the law, an agricultural guest worker program should follow to ensure the agriculture community is able to obtain the labor they need.

"It is hard to believe 16 years after I first introduced the initial version of E-Verify, the Basic Pilot Program, it is now on the cusp of becoming the law of the land. I would like to sincerely thank Chairman Smith and his staff for the hard work they have put into the legislation. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Legal Workforce Act and solve the job magnet piece of the illegal immigration problem."

E-Verify, created by Rep. Calvert in 1996 through legislation, is the only tool available to employers to check the legal status of newly hired employees. It is web-based, 99.5% accurate and free to employers.

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